Is it Andy Burnham season again? He would have been Leader 10 years ago if he had not abstained on the Welfare Bill.
Ben Houchen is a Peer of the Realm, and he is not a former Cabinet Minister. Keir Starmer could neutralise Burnham by ennobling him. Just announce that, perhaps in next week's speech to Conference. Any reaction other than delight would confirm that Burnham was trying to get back into the Commons, to only one possible purpose.
Now, do not take your eye off Ed Miliband. Unlike Burnham, he has not been out of Parliament for eight years. 10 or 11 years after an unexpected but decisive defeat at a General Election, he may yet become Prime Minister without a vote's having been cast by anyone.
There are 399 Labour MPs now, does Burnham really have 80 of them?
ReplyDeleteNo, of course not. And most of them do not like Northerners, or even pretendy proles, or even pretendy lefties. Not as potential Leaders, anyway. Both candidates for Deputy are just like that, a fact that in itself says a very great deal.
DeleteThe hand that wields the knife shall never wear the crown.
ReplyDeleteGavin Esler. Although people think that it was Shakespeare.
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